As well as providing you with an up-to-date overview of some of the main parts of the Act, this new CHEX briefing highlights real examples of community organisations making use of the Act in their own work involving communities in addressing health and wellbeing issues and tackling health inequalities.

SCDC and the Poverty Alliance worked with ten community organisations to co-design a resource framework which could be used to support communities across Scotland to conduct their own inquiries into the issues affecting them.

The Fairer Scotland Duty came into force in Scotland in April 2018. It places a legal responsibility on particular public bodies in Scotland to consider how they can reduce inequalities when planning what they do.

This free SCDC workshop hosted by Carnegie UK Trust is a chance for community groups and organisations in Fife a to find out more about participation requests, how to make one and what to think about before you do.

The Lobbying (Scotland) Act was recently signed into law, bringing with it new requirements for community organisations who discuss their work with MSPs, Scottish Government ministers, Special Advisers and the Permanent Secretary

This years Community Development Alliance Scotland (CDAS) Conference will take place on 17th April 2018, 10am-3pm, at The Studio, Hope Street, Glasgow. The theme is the ties that bind us in our communities - hence dark matter!

In light of recent policy developments in Scotland with a focus on strengthening participation and community engagement, SCDC and What Works Scotland are currently working with the Scottish Government to review the National Standards for Community Engagement.

The Community Empowerment (Scotland) Bill was passed by the Scottish Parliament on 17 June. Once the Bill comes into force, public bodies will have to meet new duties on how they support the participation of communities in the preparation and delivery of local outcome improvement plans.

The guidance accompanying the Bill will refer public bodies and others to the use of the National Standards for Community Engagement (revised and possibly renamed) as a framework to support an effective community engagement process.

Minister for Local Government and Community Empowerment Marco Biagi said: “This important piece of work will give Scottish communities an early opportunity to engage and participate in the implementation of the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Bill.

“Launched a decade ago, the National Standards for Community Engagement still plays a crucial role in helping public authorities work more efficiently and effectively with communities across Scotland to take part in activities, plans and service delivery in their local area.

“This review process will strengthen the standards and show communities how they can address inequalities if they have more powers and confidence to shape their own futures.”

SCDC and What Works Scotland are using a variety of methods to involve as many people with an interest in community engagement as possible in the review process. Community Planning Partnerships, VOiCE (Visioning Outcomes in Community Engagement) users and Community Learning and Development Lead Officers are currently being surveyed and a National Standards for Community Engagement Reunion will be held in August this year. Alongside the survey and the reunion there will be a series of focus groups, and a number of test sites for early revisions will be established before moving into a second national consultative phase. More information about the events will be made available over the coming weeks.

If you are involved in community engagement activity in any capacity, community member or paid worker, and would like to participate in any of the above review processes, please email Andrew Paterson on andrew@scdc.org.uk to let him know your contact details and to express your preference for involvement.